Contact Information

Admissions

The Admissions Department is the entry point for patients receiving any elective treatment or test at the medical center. This includes surgery, medical treatment, and outpatient diagnostic testing, such as cardiac or pulmonary testing, and imaging. The Admissions staff registers patients and gathers all pertinent demographic and financial information needed to secure services. They will direct patients and answer any questions.

Because hospitalization can seem overwhelming, it is important for patients to plan ahead to ensure that they bring everything they need in order to make their admission and stay as stress-free as possible.

The Admissions staff registers patients and gathers all pertinent demographic and financial information needed to secure services. They will direct patients and answer any questions.

Because hospitalization can seem overwhelming, it is important for patients to plan ahead to ensure that they bring everything they need in order to make their admission and stay as stress-free as possible.

Important Checklist

Below are several things patients can do (or should know) to ensure the best experience possible at the medical center:

Insurance:

Patients should bring insurance information.

Records:

Patients should give copies of any X-rays, blood tests, etc. that were taken at other facilities during patient pre-admission testing to the doctor or nurse.

Medications:

Patients should provide a list of their most recent medications and any medicinal allergies.

Physician names:

Patients should prepare a list of theirdoctors' names. The doctor who admits them to the hospital is their primary care physician and should be identified as such for all insurance purposes. Patients should tell the Admissions office the name of their other doctors (e.g., internist, pediatrician, gynecologist, family physician, primary care physician) so that they can communicate with the patient’s personal doctor, as necessary.

Healthcare Proxy:

A Health Care Proxy or Living Will (Advanced Directives) provides the opportunity for the patient to have their wishes known about who they would choose to act as their representative, should they become unable to make decisions about their care. This person would be responsible for making all medical decisions for the patient, including those involving the patient’s preferences about life-sustaining medical treatment. If the patient has prepared an Advanced Directive, or would like to, they can notify a member of the healthcare team during their stay.

Consent:

The patient will be asked to sign an agreement regarding treatment consent and financial responsibility for expenses that they will be responsible, including services that are not covered by their insurers. Please read it carefully.

On the day of the procedure, patients should go directly to the information desk. The staff will help them determine where they need to go.

Direct Admission:

Patients who are receiving recurring treatments for dialysis, kidney transplant evaluation, transfusions, or OB-GYN care need only visit the Admissions Department on the initial visit. Additional visits for the same purpose simply require stopping at the front desk to receive a slip for their appointment destination.

Patients should be prepared to provide the following at their initial visit:

health insurance co-pays

insurance carrier verification

physician name

list of medications

form of payment

Parking:

Buffalo General Medical Center offers valet parking for a fee at the main entrance on High Street.

There is also metered parking located within a few steps of the hospital, above ground parking lots and a parking ramp. Buffalo General Medical Center security officers are available to walk visitors to their cars.